LIM Center, Aleje Jerozolimskie 65/79, 00-697 Warsaw, Poland
+48 (22) 364 58 00

Honor Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 7 vs Pixel Watch 3 – The 2025 Smartwatch Showdown

Honor Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 7 vs Pixel Watch 3 – The 2025 Smartwatch Showdown

Honor Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 7 vs Pixel Watch 3 – The 2025 Smartwatch Showdown

In this comprehensive comparison, we pit three notable 2024 smartwatches against each other: Honor’s Watch 5, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7, and Google’s Pixel Watch 3. The Honor Watch 5, launched in late 2024, is a budget-friendly wearable from the former Huawei sub-brand now striking out on its own phonearena.com. It arrives as a feature-packed smartwatch that mirrors the Apple Watch’s silhouette while boasting an emphasis on long battery life and broad compatibility. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, unveiled in July 2024 androidcentral.com, is the Korean giant’s flagship Wear OS device, refining an already successful formula with a faster chip and new health features. Lastly, the Google Pixel Watch 3, released in September 2024 androidcentral.com alongside the Pixel 9 phone lineup, represents Google’s most polished smartwatch yet – now in two sizes – integrating Fitbit’s health expertise into the pure Wear OS experience. Each of these wearables enters the market with a different ethos: Honor aims to deliver maximum value and endurance, Samsung builds on years of Galaxy Watch evolution with cutting-edge hardware, and Google doubles down on sleek design and smart software integration. Below, we compare them across design, display, performance, health features, battery life, smart functions, ecosystems, pricing, expert reviews, the latest news, and ultimately, who each watch is best suited for.

Design and Build Quality

Honor Watch 5 – Apple-esque Square Style: Honor’s Watch 5 immediately stands out by sporting a square design reminiscent of the Apple Watch series phonearena.com phonearena.com. The watch has a sleek aluminum frame paired with a ceramic back, giving it a lightweight yet solid feel phonearena.com. Up front, it uses strengthened tempered glass to protect the 1.85-inch display phonearena.com phonearena.com. A rotating crown with finely CNC-cut teeth adorns the side, providing tactile navigation through menus phonearena.com phonearena.com. At just 35g (without strap) and 11mm thick phonearena.com, the Honor Watch 5 is comfortable for all-day wear. It’s rated 5ATM plus IP68 for water/dust resistance, meaning it can handle swims and dusty trails without worry phonearena.com phonearena.com. Overall, Honor delivers a stylish, square-faced build that some may call derivative of Apple’s look phonearena.com, but it certainly feels well-made for its price. Users get a choice of casual colors (black, gold, green) and the ability to attach standard 22mm bands via an included adapter phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 – Refined Round Durability: Samsung sticks with the classic round watch aesthetic on the Galaxy Watch 7, maintaining a sleek, bezel-free circular display that looks very polished techradar.com techradar.com. The case comes in two sizes – 40mm and 44mm – both made of lightweight aluminum, which keeps the weight low (just ~28.8g for 40mm, 33.8g for 44mm) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. One premium touch is the use of sapphire crystal over the display for superior scratch resistance androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In fact, both models are built to military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H) and carry 5ATM/IP68 ratings, ensuring they survive knocks, extreme temperatures, and up to 50m of water androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Watch 7’s design is slim (under 10mm thick) with smooth contours and no physical rotating bezel – navigation is handled via the touch “digital bezel” along the screen edge and two side buttons androidcentral.com techradar.com. While some Samsung fans missed the physical rotating bezel (which was absent on the Watch 7) techradar.com, the watch’s minimalist look is undeniably premium. Swappable bands and multiple color options (Green and Cream for 40mm; Green and Silver for 44mm) allow personalization androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In short, the Galaxy Watch 7 exudes a refined, modern design with robust build quality – it’s sporty yet professional, ideal for those who prefer a round watch face.

Google Pixel Watch 3 – Minimalist Dome in Two Sizes: Google’s Pixel Watch 3 continues the brand’s signature circular “water-drop” design, now available in 41mm and 45mm case sizes to fit more wrists androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Pixel Watch has a distinct domed Gorilla Glass 5 covering, which curves gently to the edges, giving it a jewel-like appearance on the wrist androidcentral.com. The new 45mm version expanded the screen significantly (over 40% larger than the Pixel Watch 2) while retaining a slim profile of 12.3mm thick store.google.com store.google.com. Both sizes use a recycled aluminum case for light weight (only 31g for 41mm, 37g for 45mm) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Pixel Watch 3 matches its rivals with 5ATM water resistance and IP68 dust protection, so it’s equally swim-proof and shower-safe androidcentral.com. A rotating crown button on the side allows smooth scrolling and menu navigation, much like a traditional watch crown (and similar to Apple’s Digital Crown). Google offers elegant case finishes – Matte Black, Polished Silver, or Champagne Gold – paired with its proprietary quick-release straps in various styles androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The overall look is minimalist and stylish, blending seamlessly with casual or business attire. Reviewers have noted the Pixel Watch’s design as “well-rounded” and premium, giving Google a true fashion-forward smartwatch youtube.com. However, the domed glass (while beautiful) is not sapphire, so a screen protector might be wise for scratch-prone users.

In summary, all three watches are well-built: Honor offers a bold square face and great comfort, Samsung delivers a durable and classic round build with luxury touches (sapphire, MIL-STD rating), and Google provides an understated yet elegant round design now in two size choices. Your preference may come down to shape and style – square vs. round – as well as materials. Samsung likely wins on sheer durability (sapphire glass, military testing) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, while Honor impresses given its price point with an aluminum/ceramic build and the Pixel Watch strikes a balance of style and substance with its signature dome and quality fit/finish.

Display

All three contenders boast vibrant AMOLED displays, but they differ in shape, size, and brightness. The Honor Watch 5 features a 1.85-inch AMOLED touchscreen in a rectangular layout (with rounded corners) phonearena.com phonearena.com. Its resolution is 450×390 pixels, which yields a sharp ~322 ppi density gadgetph.com phonearena.com – plenty crisp for reading texts and viewing fitness stats. Honor has tuned this panel to reach up to 1000 nits peak brightness, ensuring good outdoor visibility in sunlight phonearena.com phonearena.com. With a ~72.7% screen-to-body ratio on its square face phonearena.com phonearena.com, the Watch 5’s display looks expansive and immersive. Users and reviewers have praised it as a “large and bright AMOLED screen” that’s easy to glance at during workouts phonearena.com. There’s also support for an always-on display mode, though using it will cut down the battery life (Honor quotes up to 7 days with AOD on) gadgets360.com gadgets360.com.

Moving to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, you get a fully circular Super AMOLED display available in two sizes: 1.3-inch (40mm model) and 1.5-inch (44mm model) techradar.com techradar.com. The smaller screen has a 432×432 pixel resolution, while the larger is 480×480, both resulting in a very clear ~320–330 ppi (comparable to Honor’s clarity) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung is known for its display tech, and it shows – the Galaxy Watch 7’s screen is punchy in color and offers excellent contrast. Notably, the Watch 7 can crank brightness up to 2,000 nits for visibility under harsh sunlight androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. (For context, that’s double the Honor’s brightness and on par with the Pixel Watch 3’s max output.) The use of sapphire crystal glass means you can confidently tap and swipe without worrying much about scratches over time androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung also implemented a “digital bezel” – a touch-sensitive border that lets you run your finger around the edge of the screen to scroll content, simulating the rotating bezel of earlier Galaxy Watch models. The result is an edge-to-edge illusion with no chunky bezels visible techradar.com, making the watch faces and apps feel like they fill the circular screen nicely.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 also delivers a gorgeous AMOLED display, now branded the “Actua display” by Google. The 41mm model has a 1.27-inch round screen at 408×408 resolution, while the 45mm model jumps to 1.43-inch at 456×456 pixels androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Both sizes end up around 320 ppi density, so text and graphics look crisp and smooth. Google significantly boosted brightness to 2,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 3 (twice as bright as the previous gen) store.google.com store.google.com, meaning you shouldn’t struggle to read the watch even in glaring midday sun. A key advantage of the Pixel’s display is its adaptive 1–60Hz refresh rate (an LTPO panel), which intelligently drops to 1Hz in always-on mode to save power androidcentral.com. This allows an always-on clock without draining the battery too quickly, and provides ultra-smooth scrolling animations when you’re actively interacting at 60Hz. The Pixel’s screen is covered by curved Gorilla Glass 5, which seamlessly blends into the aluminum case – it’s beautiful, though not as scratch-resistant as Samsung’s sapphire. Google also calibrated the screen for rich DCI-P3 colors androidcentral.com, so watch faces and maps really pop. With minimal bezels and that dome effect, the Pixel Watch 3’s display has been called “big, beautiful, and brainy” by reviewers androidpolice.com – especially the new 45mm version, which offers 40% more screen area than before for glanceable info during exercise and navigation store.google.com store.google.com.

In summary, all three displays are high-quality AMOLEDs with excellent contrast and color. Samsung and Google’s watches lead in sheer brightness (2000 nits), which helps in direct sun androidcentral.com store.google.com, whereas Honor’s 1000 nits is still decent but not the brightest of the bunch phonearena.com phonearena.com. The Honor’s rectangular shape may actually give it a slight edge for reading long text messages or viewing lists, since it has more screen real estate in a single view (like an Apple Watch). On the other hand, video content or maps feel more natural on the round screens of the Samsung and Pixel watches. Pixel’s adaptive refresh and Samsung’s touch bezel each add a layer of finesse to the user experience. There’s no clear “winner” in display quality – it comes down to shape preference and slight feature differences – but it’s safe to say none of these will disappoint when it comes to visual experience.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, these watches take very different approaches to processing power and operating system, which influences how they perform and what software they can run.

Processor and Speed: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is a powerhouse, debuting a brand-new Exynos W1000 chip – notably the first 3nm smartwatch processor with a unique 5-core architecture androidcentral.com. It has one high-performance Cortex-A78 core plus four efficient Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.6GHz androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung claims this yields dramatic speed gains: apps load 2.7× faster than on the Watch 6’s chip, and benchmark performance is up 3.4× single-core and 3.7× multi-core androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In day-to-day use, this means the Galaxy Watch 7 feels snappy and responsive. Reviewers noted that apps like Spotify, messaging, and workouts open quickly and run smoothly – “the experience truly zips” on this watch techradar.com techradar.com. There’s also 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage onboard, double the storage of the prior model so you have ample space for apps and music techradar.com techradar.com. The Watch 7’s extra horsepower isn’t just for speed; Samsung leverages it to power advanced health algorithms and even on-watch AI features (more on that shortly) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In short, the Galaxy Watch 7 currently has arguably the fastest silicon in an Android wearable, and it shows in fluid animations and the capacity to handle future software updates or AI tasks with ease.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is no slouch either, running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform. This 4nm chip (quad-core at 1.7GHz) isn’t quite as new as Samsung’s, but it’s a big improvement over the older chip in the first Pixel Watch. Google paired it with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage – matching the Galaxy Watch 7’s memory – which together provide solid performance androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Apps and interface interactions on the Pixel Watch 3 are generally smooth, and the watch can multitask (like playing music while tracking a run) without hiccups. Speed-wise, the Pixel Watch 3 may not benchmark as high as the Exynos W1000, but in practice it handles Wear OS 5 confidently. One area where the Pixel might lag Samsung slightly is in executing some heavy tasks or opening very large apps – Samsung’s extra cores give it an edge for the most demanding uses androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. However, Google optimized the software tightly for their hardware, and most users find the Pixel Watch 3 “fast” and lag-free. It also has a Cortex M33 co-processor for low-power tasks, which helps offload simple operations (like counting steps in the background) to save battery androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Overall, the Pixel Watch 3’s performance is much improved over previous Pixel Watches and perfectly adequate for everyday use – it’s only in direct comparison to Samsung’s latest that it might feel a half-step behind.

The Honor Watch 5 takes a different route. It does not run Wear OS and thus doesn’t need a high-end Qualcomm or Exynos processor to deliver good battery life. In fact, Honor doesn’t publicize the exact chipset model (it’s likely a custom ARM-based processor tailored for efficient operation) gadgetph.com gadgetph.com. The spec sheet lists no CPU model and a modest memory configuration (the Honor 5 Ultra variant has 64MB RAM and 8GB storage gadgets360.com gadgets360.com, while the standard Watch 5 has 4GB storage) phonearena.com phonearena.com. These specs sound low on paper, but because the Watch 5 runs Honor’s custom MagicOS (not a full app-heavy OS), the hardware is sufficient. The watch’s performance shines in terms of battery efficiency and basic responsiveness. Navigating the UI, swiping through menus, and viewing notifications are generally smooth experiences. There’s even a 45-teeth rotating crown to scroll without lags in the interface phonearena.com phonearena.com. However, you won’t be doing anything processor-intensive like installing large third-party apps or games – those simply aren’t part of Honor’s platform. So while the Honor Watch 5 feels snappy for built-in functions, it’s not meant for heavy multitasking or high-end apps. The upside is that this lean approach contributes to its excellent battery life (as we’ll discuss in a later section). Essentially, Honor’s performance philosophy is “do more with less”, optimizing the experience on limited but power-frugal hardware. It’s worth noting that the Honor Watch 5 does include a speaker and mic for calls and voice assistant requests phonearena.com phonearena.com, and it handles those just fine.

Operating System and Apps: The software differences here are huge. Honor Watch 5 runs MagicOS (version 8 on the base model) gadgetph.com, which is Honor’s proprietary operating system for wearables. It supports the essentials – notifications mirroring, call handling, music controls, and comprehensive health tracking – but does not have the Google Play Store or Wear OS apps. This means you are largely limited to the features and apps Honor provides out of the box (though they offer a variety of watch faces and perhaps some simple add-ons via the Honor Health companion app). Third-party app support is limited to nonexistent phonearena.com, so you won’t be running Spotify natively or replying from WhatsApp on the watch unless Honor’s software specifically allows it via phone tethering. The advantage of MagicOS is that it’s lightweight and tailored for long battery endurance, and it’s also compatible with both Android and iOS devices via the Honor Health app phonearena.com. So, an iPhone user could use the Honor Watch 5 (something neither the Samsung nor Pixel can claim, as we’ll note later). MagicOS provides a clean, simple interface and features like Quick Health Scan, Scientific Sleep Management, and other Honor-specific wellness insights phonearena.com phonearena.com. It’s easy to use, but tech enthusiasts should be aware it’s not an app platform – think of it more like a fitness smartwatch OS similar to those on Fitbit or Garmin devices, rather than a full smartphone-like OS.

In contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 and Google’s Pixel Watch 3 both run Google’s Wear OS 4/5 (Wear OS 4 at launch for Pixel Watch 3, upgraded to Wear OS 5; Galaxy Watch 7 launched with One UI Watch 6 on top of Wear OS 4/5) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Essentially, these two offer a full-fledged smartwatch OS with the ability to install a multitude of apps from the Google Play Store – from music apps (Spotify, YouTube Music) to messaging (WhatsApp now has a Wear OS app) to navigation (Google Maps is built-in) and more. Samsung puts its own spin with the One UI Watch 6 interface on top of Wear OS androidcentral.com. One UI Watch brings stylistic changes and some Samsung-exclusive apps/features (like Samsung Health, Bixby voice assistant, and deeper integration with Galaxy phones) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch 3 runs a Pixel-optimized version of Wear OS 5, which is very close to stock Google design, with the Google Assistant and Fitbit integration front and center androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Both watches support Google Assistant (though on Samsung you might have to install it manually; Bixby is default). Both support Google Pay/Wallet for contactless payments using NFC, along with their own variants (Samsung Wallet on the Watch 7 if you prefer). They also allow third-party watch faces, apps, and tiles – offering far more customization and functionality than Honor’s OS. The trade-off is that Wear OS is heavier on resources, which is why the Pixel and Samsung watches can’t match Honor’s battery longevity. However, thanks to powerful chips and Google’s improvements, Wear OS 4/5 is smoother and more battery-efficient than older versions. Google has promised 3 years of software updates for the Pixel Watch 3 androidcentral.com, and Samsung similarly provides multi-year support for its Wear OS watches. In fact, the Pixel Watch line tends to get Wear OS updates fastest – often day-one – whereas other brands might lag behind androidcentral.com. For example, Pixel Watch 3 will get Wear OS 6 later in 2025 with new features and UI enhancements androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, and Samsung’s One UI Watch will likely follow with its own spin.

User Interface and Interaction: Each watch has its own flavor in UI. Honor’s MagicOS keeps things simple with widget-like health screens and basic notifications. You navigate via swipes and the rotating crown. Samsung’s One UI Watch is known for its polished interface that complements Android phones (especially Galaxies). It uses familiar iconography and has added conveniences like gesture controls (e.g., a pinch or hand motion to answer calls) which reviewers found handy techradar.com. Samsung’s interface also integrates Galaxy-specific features when paired with Galaxy phones – for instance, camera controller, Samsung SmartThings app for smart home, and the new Galaxy Watch for Kids mode (which can repurpose a Watch 7 LTE as a child-friendly smartwatch with parental controls) androidcentral.com. Google’s Pixel Watch UI is very much Google’s design language (Material You theming, etc.), and it emphasizes the Fitbit experience – the Fitbit Today app and health metrics are just a swipe away. Google also includes unique watch face complications and the Google Home app on the wrist to control smart home devices directly androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. A noteworthy upcoming change: Google plans to introduce “Project Gemini” AI assistant on watches to replace the standard Assistant with a more powerful on-device AI helper androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. This will land first on Pixel watches (likely Pixel Watch 4) but could come to Pixel Watch 3 with an update, allowing advanced voice commands and natural language queries beyond what current assistants do.

In summary, Samsung and Pixel watches offer far greater software capabilities and app ecosystems since they run Wear OS, whereas Honor’s watch is locked into its simpler but very efficient MagicOS environment. If you want to run lots of apps, reply to messages from the watch, use Google services on your wrist, or integrate deeply with smartphone apps, the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 clearly outshine Honor here. They feel like tiny smartphones on your wrist. The Honor Watch 5 instead feels like a very advanced fitness tracker that also tells time and shows notifications – which for many users is enough, especially if you prioritize simplicity and battery life over app overload. Performance-wise, Galaxy Watch 7 currently leads in raw speed, Pixel Watch 3 is not far behind and benefits from Google’s software optimizations, and Honor’s watch performs well within its more limited scope.

Health and Fitness Tracking

One of the biggest roles of a smartwatch is health and fitness monitoring, and all three watches are loaded with sensors – though some have more advanced capabilities than others.

Heart Rate and Biometric Sensors: Each watch can continuously track your heart rate and blood oxygen, but Samsung and Google include additional specialized sensors. The Honor Watch 5 is equipped with an optical heart rate sensor and an SpO₂ sensor for blood oxygen saturation phonearena.com phonearena.com. These provide 24/7 heart-rate monitoring and spot checks of blood oxygen levels – useful for gauging exertion and wellness. Honor even has a one-tap “Quick Health Scan” that likely measures multiple vitals (heart rate, SpO₂, stress) in one go for a quick status update phonearena.com phonearena.com. However, the Honor Watch 5 does not have ECG (electrocardiogram) or other advanced cardiac sensors in the standard model, nor does it measure things like skin temperature. It covers the fundamentals well – heart rate, blood oxygen, accelerometer data – and Honor’s algorithms then provide insights like stress monitoring (likely via heart rate variability) and breathing exercises. For many users, that’s plenty: PhoneArena’s review lauded the Honor Watch 5’s “comprehensive health and fitness tracking”, noting that you get a lot of health data and sleep insights for the price phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 goes all-out with its Samsung BioActive Sensor array, which is essentially three sensors in one: an optical heart rate (PPG) sensor, an electrical heart signal sensor (ECG capabilities), and a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor for body composition androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Additionally, it has a dedicated temperature sensor on board for skin temperature readings (used for things like advanced cycle tracking for women’s health). The heart rate sensor on Watch 7 is significantly upgraded: it uses 13 LEDs (multi-path PPG) versus only 4 on the previous gen, which Samsung says improved accuracy during high-intensity workouts to 94% (up from 88%) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In practice, reviewers found the Watch 7’s heart rate tracking more reliable for interval training, keeping closer to chest strap readings androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Watch 7 can also take ECG readings on demand (using the electrical sensor and Samsung Health Monitor app) to detect irregular heart rhythms like AFib. It’s FDA-approved in many regions – though note, ECG functionality usually requires pairing with a Samsung phone to enable due to software restrictions. Furthermore, the BIA sensor lets the Galaxy Watch measure your body composition (body fat %, muscle mass, etc.) in about 15 seconds by sending a micro-current through the body androidcentral.com. This is a unique feature not present on Pixel or Honor. Samsung also introduced an experimental metric called “AGEs Index” using the new optical sensors (involving blue, yellow, violet, UV LEDs) to potentially assess skin glycation (a proxy for long-term health) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. While the initial AGEs feature turned out not very useful (everyone got similar scores) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, it shows Samsung’s ambition to “pursue unexplored aspects of health monitoring” with all those sensors androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Watch 7 also supports blood pressure monitoring (via pulse wave analysis on the PPG sensor), though this feature requires calibration with a cuff and is regionally limited. On top of that, Samsung’s watch tracks stress (via HRV), has an ambient light sensor (for auto-brightness and perhaps some UV exposure estimates), and all the standard motion sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, etc.) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. It’s a holistic health tracking machine – basically any metric a smartwatch can reasonably measure, the Galaxy Watch 7 does.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 also offers an impressive health sensor suite, thanks largely to Google’s integration of Fitbit technology. It has a multipath optical heart-rate sensor (using multiple LED wavelengths and photodiodes) for continuous heart rate and zone tracking androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Like Samsung, it includes red and infrared sensors for SpO₂ to log blood oxygen levels at night and on demand androidcentral.com. Importantly, Pixel Watch 3 features a multipurpose electrical sensor for ECG, allowing users to record a single-lead ECG and check for atrial fibrillation via the Fitbit ECG app androidcentral.com. It also uniquely has an EDA sensor (cEDA – continuous ElectroDermal Activity) which measures electrodermal activity (basically changes in skin sweat level) to gauge stress responses throughout the day androidcentral.com. This was introduced in Pixel Watch 2 and carried into Watch 3, enabling a “Body Response” feature that can alert you of significant stress events by combining EDA, heart rate, and skin temperature data. Yes, the Pixel Watch 3 includes a skin temperature sensor as well (used passively during sleep to track night-time skin temperature variation) androidcentral.com. While Google hasn’t opened this for on-demand fever checks or such, it feeds into wellness metrics like stress and recovery. In effect, Pixel Watch 3 tracks heart health (via heart rate and ECG), blood oxygen, stress, and even has a new “Loss of Pulse” detection capability that is first-of-its-kind – if it detects a sudden drop to zero pulse (possible cardiac arrest), it can trigger emergency services store.google.com store.google.com. Google obtained FDA clearance for this life-saving feature in early 2025 tomsguide.com androidcentral.com, making Pixel Watch 3 a potential literal lifesaver. Additionally, Pixel leverages the usual motion sensors (accelerometer, altimeter, gyroscope, compass) for activity and an ambient light sensor for auto-brightness androidcentral.com. Overall, Pixel Watch 3’s sensor set is second only to Samsung’s – it lacks Samsung’s body composition and blood pressure functions, but adds continuous EDA stress tracking which Samsung doesn’t have.

Fitness and Sports Tracking: All three watches support a plethora of exercise modes and GPS tracking, but with varying accuracy and software coaching. Honor Watch 5 covers all the common activities: running (indoor/outdoor), cycling, swimming (it’s 5ATM waterproof), hiking, etc., plus niche ones like badminton or yoga. Honor’s GPS performance is reportedly fast and accurate – a pro highlighted by reviewers phonearena.com phonearena.com. So for basic route tracking during runs or rides, Honor does a fine job, mapping your courses and giving distance and pace data. It might not have the advanced dual-band GPS of Samsung, but casual users likely won’t notice a big difference in open areas. The watch provides metrics like steps, calories, distance, and can likely auto-detect some workouts (walking, running). Honor also touts features like “Healthy Morning Report” which presumably gives you a summary of your sleep, recovery, and readiness to tackle the day, and “Scientific Sleep Management” for deep sleep analysis with breakdown of sleep stages phonearena.com. Indeed, Honor Watch 5 tracks sleep quite comprehensively – capturing light, deep, REM sleep and even short naps, then offering sleep scores and suggestions. Its sleep and fitness tracking are described as comprehensive and insightful phonearena.com phonearena.com, which is impressive at its price point.

The Galaxy Watch 7 is a fitness enthusiast’s dream, rivaling dedicated sports watches in some respects. With the new dual-frequency (L1+L5) dual-band GPS, it achieves very high location accuracy, minimizing errors caused by tall buildings or dense forests interfering with signals androidcentral.com. In tests, the Watch 7’s GPS tracks runs and bike rides more precisely than earlier models, drawing clean paths even in challenging environments androidcentral.com. This is great news for runners or hikers who want reliable distance and pace. The Watch 7 supports dozens of workout modes and can automatically detect activities like running, walking, cycling, elliptical, swimming, etc. It provides advanced running metrics (ground contact time, symmetry – some of those were introduced in Watch 6) and can estimate VO₂ max, cardio score, and recovery times. For weight training, it can count reps for certain exercises. The new AI Coach and “Energy Score” features leverage your data to give personalized guidance. For instance, Galaxy Watch 7 uses Galaxy AI algorithms to compute an “Energy Score” that looks at your recent sleep, stress, and activity to tell you how drained or ready your body is androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. It even provides wellness tips (e.g., advising rest if your scores are off) and is FDA-approved for sleep apnea detection, monitoring blood oxygen and snoring to warn if you might have sleep apnea risk androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung Health on the watch gives rich sleep analysis (with a “Sleep Animal” symbolism like a chronotype) and can coach you to improve sleep habits. On the fitness side, a new “Personalized Heart Rate Zone” feature can tailor your training zones during runs. And in 2025, Samsung previewed upcoming One UI Watch updates that will bring a Health Coach AI, “Vascular load” metric for heart health, mindfulness check-ins, and even tailored meal plans based on an “antioxidant index” – many of these will leverage the Watch 7’s sensors and should roll out with Wear OS 6 later in 2025 androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In short, the Galaxy Watch 7 not only tracks everything (from steps to stress) but increasingly offers guidance and coaching, making it a robust companion for anyone serious about health and exercise.

The Pixel Watch 3, with Fitbit’s DNA, is also extremely strong in health and fitness tracking, especially for everyday athletes. Out of the box, it includes 6 months of Fitbit Premium, unlocking detailed analytics and guided programs store.google.com. For runners, the Pixel Watch 3 introduced new Fitbit Running Insights: you can build custom interval workouts, set pace or heart rate targets, and get real-time audio and haptic cues when to speed up or slow down store.google.com store.google.com. The watch measures advanced stats like VO₂ max, resting heart rate trends, and can even analyze your running form – thanks to motion sensors, it tracks cadence, stride length, and vertical oscillation to help you improve efficiency store.google.com store.google.com. During exercise, the large display (especially on 45mm) is handy for showing multiple metrics at once, and the 5 ATM waterproofing means you can swim with it (it tracks swim laps too). Pixel Watch 3’s GPS is not dual-band, but it’s fairly accurate for most conditions; however, in downtown or trail environments it might not be as pinpoint as the Galaxy’s dual-band system. One area Pixel excels is holistic wellness scores: the Daily Readiness Score (Fitbit feature) uses your sleep quality, recent activity, and heart rate variability to tell if you should train hard or take it easy store.google.com store.google.com. Each morning you can check your Readiness and get suggested Active Zone Minutes goals. The watch also provides a stress “Body Response” log throughout the day (flagging moments of high stress using that cEDA sensor) and invites you to log reflections or do mindfulness exercises via Fitbit app. Sleep tracking on Pixel Watch 3 is top-notch – it leverages the heart rate, SpO₂, movement, and skin temperature to detail your sleep stages and give a Sleep Score. New Wear OS updates also enabled better menstrual health tracking through Fitbit, and improved step counting accuracy androidcentral.com. And like the others, Pixel Watch 3 has fall detection and emergency SOS features, plus that standout Emergency “Loss of Pulse” alert feature for serious medical events store.google.com store.google.com. All combined, the Pixel Watch 3 offers a Fitbit-level fitness experience on a full smartwatch – it’s particularly great for those who enjoy data-driven coaching and an easy-to-use companion app (Fitbit’s) to review all their stats.

To summarize Health & Fitness: The Honor Watch 5 covers all the basics extremely well – heart rate, SpO₂, GPS exercise tracking, and robust sleep analysis – which is impressive at its affordable price phonearena.com phonearena.com. It’s perfect for someone who wants core health metrics and long-term tracking without needing clinical-grade extras. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is arguably the most feature-packed health smartwatch: it adds ECG, body composition, temperature, advanced accuracy sensors, and a growing array of AI-driven coaching and health alerts androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. It’s ideal for users who want cutting-edge health tech on their wrist (especially if you have a Samsung phone to unlock everything like ECG/BP easily). The Google Pixel Watch 3 sits close to Samsung in capability – you get ECG and stress tracking (no BIA, but that’s niche), and benefit from Fitbit’s polished ecosystem of insights and motivation androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Pixel Watch 3 might be the best for overall wellness tracking and coaching if you are already into Fitbit or prefer its style of feedback and community challenges. Samsung might edge it out for pure sensor hardware and serious athletes who want those extra metrics like body fat or dual-band GPS accuracy. Honor is the champion for battery-conscious fitness tracking – you can track workouts daily and sleep every night without worrying about charging constantly, at the cost of some advanced features.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery endurance is a category where the Honor Watch 5 flexes its muscles, while the Wear OS competitors struggle to go beyond a couple of days.

Honor Watch 5: Thanks to its efficient MagicOS and large battery, the Honor Watch 5 boasts exceptional battery life – up to 14–15 days of typical use on a single charge phonearena.com phonearena.com. This is multiple times longer than what Samsung or Google advertise for their watches. The Honor uses a 480 mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is quite high capacity given the device’s slim 11mm profile phonearena.com phonearena.com. In real-world terms, users can expect around two weeks of use if you’re not using always-on display and not hammering the cellular features (in fact, the base Watch 5 has no cellular radio, which helps battery life). Even if you enable the always-on display, Honor says you’ll get roughly 7 days – still a full week – which is excellent gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. There’s a caveat: the Honor Watch 5 (standard) does not have LTE capability (no eSIM in the base model) phonearena.com. The Honor Watch 5 Ultra variant (released later) does have eSIM, but Honor acknowledges that enabling cellular significantly cuts endurance (to ~3 days in eSIM mode) gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. The base model, being Bluetooth-only, avoids that battery drain. So if you’re mostly using it tethered to your phone for notifications and workouts, the Honor Watch 5 will easily go well over a week per charge, making it one of the best in class for battery longevity. This aligns with PhoneArena’s experience: they praised the “amazing battery life” in their Honor Watch 5 review phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Charging the Honor Watch 5 is done via a magnetic proprietary charger that latches onto pogo pins on the watch’s backside. It’s not wireless Qi charging, but the included charger juices up the watch fully in about 70 minutes (0% to 100%), according to Honor’s specs phonearena.com. That’s relatively fast given the large battery – roughly 15% charge in 10 minutes. There is no wireless charging support on the standard Honor Watch 5 phonearena.com, so you can’t use your phone’s reverse wireless charging or a Qi pad – you must use Honor’s cable. This is one of the few downsides, but considering you’ll charge it only every other week, it’s a minor inconvenience.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Battery life on the Galaxy Watch 7 is decent but not groundbreaking, largely unchanged from the prior model. The 40mm version has a 300 mAh battery, and the 44mm has 425 mAh, the latter being the same capacity as the Watch 6 (hence Samsung didn’t quote longer life than before) techradar.com techradar.com. Officially, Samsung rates the Watch 7’s endurance similar to past Galaxy Watches – around 40–50 hours on a charge in optimal conditions. In practice, with the always-on display off, a 44mm Watch 7 can often get through 2 full days of moderate use (perhaps from morning of Day 1 to end of Day 2). With always-on display enabled, it typically needs daily charging – roughly ~24 hours of use, similar to the Pixel Watch’s claim androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Early reviews noted Samsung made no major battery improvements this generation techradar.com, which is a slight disappointment given the new efficient chip. Indeed, TechRadar’s verdict lists “no improvement to battery life” as a con techradar.com. The new Exynos W1000 is more powerful but also likely draws more power when utilizing those extra cores, and Samsung’s bright screen and many sensors consume juice too. The inclusion of dual-band GPS (using two frequencies) can also use more power during workouts, though it yields better accuracy. Essentially, expect 1.5 to 2 days of battery on the Galaxy Watch 7 for the larger model if you’re careful, and closer to 1 day if you’re using AOD and lots of features. The 40mm model, with its smaller battery, will be a bit less – often requiring a top-up every night unless you disable AOD and use battery saving.

On the plus side, the Galaxy Watch 7 charges faster than older Galaxy models. It uses a WPC-based wireless fast charging solution, meaning it’s compatible with the Qi wireless charging standard (with some caveats) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. You can drop the Watch 7 on its included wireless charging puck (USB-C) and get to 45–50% in roughly half an hour, and a full charge in about ~80-90 minutes. Samsung advertises 8 hours of use from 8 minutes of charging on the Watch 7, useful if you need a quick boost before sleep tracking or a workout (this was a spec for Watch 6 that should carry to Watch 7). The charging is convenient – you can even use some phones’ reverse wireless charging to top up the Watch 7 in a pinch. So while you’ll charge Samsung’s watch much more often than Honor’s, at least it doesn’t take very long to refill. And if battery is a real concern, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra which has a 590 mAh battery for multi-day use, though that’s a different class of device (and price) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. For this comparison, note that the Watch 7 is not a multi-week champ; it’s designed for people okay with charging every day or two, akin to how Apple Watches are used.

Google Pixel Watch 3: The Pixel Watch 3’s battery life falls in the same general range as Samsung’s. Google gives a straightforward figure: “Up to 24 hours with always-on display” for both sizes androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. This is actually an improvement, because the original Pixel Watch barely hit 24 hours without always-on. The larger 45mm model has a 420 mAh battery (about 35% bigger than the 41mm’s 306 mAh) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, but Google didn’t extend the quoted runtime – likely because the bigger screen uses more power, netting out to similar usage time. In testing, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 can exceed a day if AOD is off – around 30-36 hours is achievable with light use androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. With AOD on, most users get roughly a full day (~24h) before needing a charge. So practically, you charge it once daily or at least a quick recharge while showering or during breakfast to ensure it lasts overnight if you track sleep. The Battery Saver mode can stretch the life to about 36 hours by turning off AOD and background sync, which is handy if you can’t charge immediately androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Pixel Watch 3’s endurance is certainly better than Pixel Watch 1’s roughly 18 hours. And anecdotal feedback indicates Pixel Watch 3’s larger model “finally got it right, especially with the battery life,” giving many users confidence to wear it all day and night (with a quick charge in between) webvpn.gzy.edu.cn.

When it is time to charge, the Pixel Watch 3 uses a proprietary wireless charging puck (USB-C) similar to Samsung’s. Google significantly sped up charging on Pixel Watch 3. The 41mm charges 0–50% in ~24 minutes, 0–100% in about 60 minutes androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The 45mm, with its larger battery, hits 50% in ~28 minutes, 80% in 50 min, and takes around 80 minutes for a full 100% charge androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. These speeds are on par with Samsung’s fast charge and make it feasible to do quick top-ups. For example, if you wear the Pixel Watch all day, you could toss it on the charger for 20 minutes before bed to have enough battery for tracking your sleep through the night (since ~30% charge is enough for a night). One downside: while the charger uses Qi standard, the Pixel Watch is picky about chargers – in general, you need to use the official puck or specific compatible ones (most phones cannot wirelessly charge it reliably). But since the included charger works quickly, it’s usually not an issue.

In summary, Honor Watch 5 is the undisputed battery champ here. It can go for days and days – up to two weeks – per charge phonearena.com phonearena.com, utterly dwarfing the one- to two-day life of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3. Honor’s efficiency is a big selling point if you hate charging cables. Samsung and Google have to be charged roughly 7–10 times more often than Honor’s watch. However, the flip side is they do a lot more in the background (constant app connectivity, richer visuals, etc.). Samsung and Pixel mitigate their shorter battery life with fast charging – around an hour for a full charge – making it easier to live with nightly charging routines androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. If you want to track sleep and wear the watch all day, you’ll need to strategically charge Samsung/Pixel (either morning or night). Honor’s watch you can simply wear 24/7 and charge once every week or two without worry. So, if battery longevity is your top priority, the Honor Watch 5 clearly wins. If you’re okay charging daily like you do a smartphone, Pixel and Samsung offer the trade-off of advanced features for shorter battery life, with no major difference between those two on stamina (both are roughly 1–2 day devices under normal use).

Smart Features

Beyond fitness, a modern smartwatch is an extension of your phone – handling notifications, calls, payments, voice commands, and apps. Here’s how our three contenders stack up in general “smart” capabilities:

Notifications and Communication: All three watches will show notifications from your paired phone – texts, emails, app alerts – but Samsung and Pixel allow richer interaction. With the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 (Wear OS), you can directly respond to messages using voice dictation, on-screen keyboard (yes, tiny QWERTY keyboards are available), or quick emoji and canned replies. You can, for example, reply to a WhatsApp message or Gmail from the watch. Both also support taking calls on-wrist thanks to their built-in speaker and microphone – this works via Bluetooth to your phone or directly on LTE models without the phone. The call quality is adequate for short chats. The Honor Watch 5 can show incoming call alerts and you can accept or reject calls. Since it has a speaker and mic, it does support Bluetooth phone calls, effectively acting as a hands-free speakerphone when connected to your phone phonearena.com phonearena.com. However, the base Honor Watch 5 has no cellular option (no eSIM) phonearena.com, so it cannot function independently for calls/data. (The new Honor Watch 5 Ultra does have eSIM for standalone calls gadgets360.com gadgets360.com, but that’s a separate model beyond our main comparison.) Also, Honor’s notification interactivity may be limited – you likely can’t reply to a message from the watch except maybe with a few preset quick replies or an emoji, and only on Android. On iOS, Honor’s functionality could be further limited by Apple’s restrictions (e.g., you might only get notifications but no way to respond).

Voice Assistants: This is a major differentiator. The Pixel Watch 3 comes with Google Assistant on board. You can say “Hey Google” or long-press the crown to invoke Assistant and ask anything from setting reminders, controlling smart home devices (“turn off the lights”), to checking calendar, sending texts, or getting answers from the web. It’s essentially the full Google Assistant experience on your wrist – a very powerful feature. On the Galaxy Watch 7, the default voice assistant is Samsung’s Bixby. Bixby can handle many tasks like starting workouts, messaging contacts, or checking weather, but it’s generally seen as less robust in general knowledge queries than Google Assistant. The good news: because the Watch 7 runs Wear OS, you can install Google Assistant on it as well if you prefer. Samsung now allows users to use Assistant (this had rolled out for the Watch 4/5 and continues), so you aren’t stuck with Bixby if you want Google’s voice AI. Having both options is nice for those in Samsung’s ecosystem (Bixby integrates with some Samsung phone features, while Assistant ties into Google). Meanwhile, the Honor Watch 5 does not have Google Assistant or Alexa, but it reportedly features Honor’s own “YoYo” AI assistant gadgets360.com. YoYo was originally developed by Huawei/Honor for voice tasks on their devices. On the Watch 5 Ultra, Honor confirmed Yoyo assistant is included gadgets360.com, so it likely exists on the base Watch 5 too. However, Yoyo’s capabilities (especially outside of China) are quite limited compared to Google Assistant. It may handle simple commands like checking weather, starting an exercise, or asking a general question via an internet connection, but its language understanding and ecosystem integration are not as advanced. And if your phone is an iPhone, Yoyo might not function at all (since it needs the Honor phone app). So in voice control, Pixel (Assistant) and Galaxy (Assistant or Bixby) are far ahead, offering true smart assistant experiences, whereas Honor’s is basic.

Apps and Ecosystem: The Wear OS watches (Samsung & Pixel) can run a wide array of third-party apps. You have Google’s own apps: Maps, Google Pay (Wallet), Calendar, YouTube Music, etc., plus third-party apps from the Play Store like Spotify, Strava, Telegram, Uber, Runkeeper, and many more. Samsung’s Watch 7, for instance, benefits from 32GB storage to download playlists on Spotify or podcasts on Pocket Casts for offline listening androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Google’s Pixel being native Wear OS likewise can store music (32GB as well) and run all these apps. With these watches you can also do things like control presentation slides (Google Slides app), use Google Maps navigation on your wrist (super handy for walking directions, complete with vibrational turn alerts), or even play simple games or use calculator apps on the watch. The Honor Watch 5 does not support installing third-party apps in the same way phonearena.com. You’re basically using built-in functions and whatever settings are in the Honor Health app. It has music controls (to control your phone’s playback), but it doesn’t run Spotify independently. It has notification viewing, but you can’t install WhatsApp on it. This is a conscious trade-off by Honor to extend battery life and keep the system simple.

Contactless Payments: Both the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 support NFC payments. On the Pixel Watch, Google Wallet lets you tap-and-pay at stores with the watch (once you’ve set it up with your credit cards, and the watch has a lock for security). On Galaxy Watch 7, you have two routes: Google Wallet (since it’s Wear OS) or Samsung Pay (via the Samsung Wallet app on the watch). Either way, you can pay from your wrist – great for quick grocery trips or paying for coffee without your phone. Honor Watch 5 has NFC hardware (region-dependent) gadgetph.com, and in China it likely supports local payment systems or transit cards. But global usage of Honor’s NFC might be limited; there’s no Google Pay on it, and unless Honor partners with payment providers in certain countries, you probably cannot use it for contactless payments in most regions. So for most users outside China, consider the Honor Watch as not supporting mobile payments.

Music and Media: Pixel and Samsung watches allow offline music storage and playback – you can connect Bluetooth earbuds directly to the watch and play music or podcasts phone-free (ideal for runs). For example, you can download playlists on YouTube Music or Spotify on Pixel/Samsung (32GB storage is plenty for hundreds of songs) androidcentral.com. Honor Watch 5, with its 4GB storage, might allow loading some MP3 files via the app (some Huawei/Honor wearables let you transfer music files to the watch to play via Bluetooth headphones). But this is a less polished experience and may or may not be supported officially. It does, however, have a decent loudspeaker on the watch itself phonearena.com – which is fine for phone calls or the occasional alarm, but you wouldn’t use it as a music speaker beyond maybe a quick tune in a quiet room.

Smart Home and Extras: The Pixel Watch 3 integrates nicely with Google’s ecosystem – it has a Google Home app that lets you see Nest doorbell notifications with an image, control smart thermostats, lights, etc., right from the watch androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. It also supports unlocking your Android phone or Chromebook when the watch is nearby and on your wrist (trusted device feature). Samsung’s Watch 7 can similarly serve as a smartphone camera remote (especially with Samsung phones, letting you preview and snap photos), and it has the SmartThings app available for controlling Samsung’s smart home devices or any connected IoT device. It also introduced a Kids mode for LTE watches as mentioned – effectively turning the watch into a standalone kid tracker with parental controls androidcentral.com. Honor’s watch doesn’t have these broader integrations, but it covers basics like weather forecast, alarm, timer, stopwatch, and perhaps a remote shutter release for Honor phones (some proprietary apps do that).

Compatibility and Connectivity: We will cover general compatibility in the next section, but in terms of connectivity features: Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 both offer optional LTE models, meaning they can operate independently from your phone for calls, texts, and data (with an added eSIM plan) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. As noted, Honor Watch 5 standard is Bluetooth-only, so it’s always tied to your phone’s connection for smart features. All three have Bluetooth 5+ and Wi-Fi for connectivity when your phone isn’t near. The Pixel Watch 3 even includes UWB (Ultra Wideband) in its hardware androidcentral.com, which currently doesn’t have many uses but could enable things like precise device finding or digital car key functionality (Google has hinted at Pixel Watch UWB being used to unlock cars in the future). Samsung’s Watch 7 does not have UWB listed, but its new Ultra might. Honor of course does not have UWB. In terms of GPS, all have multi-GNSS support, but only Samsung’s is dual-band for extra accuracy androidcentral.com androidcentral.com.

Security and Emergency: Pixel and Samsung both offer fall detection – if you take a hard fall and don’t move, they can call emergency contacts (Pixel’s is integrated with its Emergency SOS app store.google.com). Honor’s Watch 5 does not advertise fall detection. Pixel has that unique Safety Check and Emergency Sharing feature – you can set a timer when walking alone, and if you don’t respond when it expires, it shares your location with chosen contacts store.google.com store.google.com. It can also share your medical ID information from the watch in case of an emergency store.google.com. Samsung’s watches can do an SOS call to contacts if a fall is detected or if you rapidly press the home key, and send your location – similar functions via the Samsung Wearable app. Honor’s may not have these integrated due to lack of cellular or advanced app tie-in (though if connected to an Android phone, maybe the phone’s emergency SOS can be triggered via the watch, but not confirmed).

In summary, the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 are significantly more capable in smart features: they essentially run mini-apps and can partly replace pulling out your phone for many tasks (payments, replying to messages, streaming music, navigation, voice queries, etc.). Between those two, their capabilities are closely matched since both are Wear OS – the differences lie in their ecosystems: Pixel is better for Google services (Assistant by default, Google Home integration) and gets faster software updates androidcentral.com, while Samsung ties in nicely with Samsung services (Bixby, SmartThings, and unique perks if you have a Samsung phone, like unlocking some health features and camera control). The Honor Watch 5 covers the fundamentals – notifications, calls via Bluetooth, and fitness – but deliberately omits an app ecosystem and advanced extras. Think of Honor as a “smart fitness watch” whereas the others are “full smartwatches.” If your needs are simple (you want to see who’s calling or texting and maybe answer hands-free, track health, and not much else), Honor will serve you well without overwhelm. But if you envision talking to your watch to send a text, paying for groceries with a flick of your wrist, streaming Spotify on a run without your phone, or running bespoke apps, then Pixel Watch 3 or Galaxy Watch 7 will be the suitable choices.

Ecosystem and Compatibility

Choosing a smartwatch often comes down to how well it plays with your other devices. Here’s what to expect from each in terms of ecosystem integration and phone compatibility:

Phone Compatibility: The Honor Watch 5 has a broad approach – it supports both Android and iOS phones via the Honor Health companion app phonearena.com. That means you can use it with virtually any modern smartphone. On Android (requires Android 9.0 or above according to Honor’s Ultra spec gadgets360.com), you install the Honor Health app to pair the watch and sync data. On iPhones (iOS 13.0+ supported gadgets360.com), you’d use a similar app. However, be aware that functionality might be slightly reduced on iOS (for example, responding to messages or certain deep integrations won’t work due to iOS restrictions, and you obviously can’t use it with Apple HealthKit as seamlessly as an Apple Watch). But basic notifications and health syncing to Honor’s cloud should work. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Google Pixel Watch 3, in contrast, only officially work with Android phones. Starting with Wear OS 3 (which both run), Google dropped iPhone support entirely. The Pixel Watch 3 requires an Android 10+ device and a Google account to set up androidcentral.com. The Galaxy Watch 7 similarly needs Android (Samsung’s wearable app and services only run on Android). So if you have an iPhone, these watches are not an option – Apple keeps its Watch domain to itself, and Google/Samsung have aligned with Android only for their latest wearables. Thus, Honor is the only one of the trio that an iPhone owner could use at all (though the experience will not be as tight as an Apple Watch with an iPhone). For Android users, all three will pair, but Pixel and Samsung have some further considerations:

Integration with Phone Brand: The Pixel Watch 3 is a natural companion to Google Pixel phones (and Android phones in general). It doesn’t require a Pixel phone – you can use it with any Android – but a few features are Pixel-exclusive or work better on Pixel phones. For example, some of the camera integration (like quickly getting a photo from your Pixel phone’s camera on your watch) might be Pixel-only. Also, certain Assistant features or “cross-device” features may debut on Pixel phones first. That said, Android Central emphasizes that the Pixel Watch 3 is “better connected with your other Google and Pixel devices than other Wear OS watches” androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, highlighting things like seamless connectivity with Pixel Buds, or Fast Pair, and unified design language. If you’re deep in the Google ecosystem (Pixel phone, Nest smart home, Gmail/Google services), the Pixel Watch feels like a logical extension.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 will work with any Android phone (Android 8.0 or above) using the Galaxy Wearable app. However, it shines brightest with Samsung Galaxy phones. For one, features like ECG and blood pressure monitoring via Samsung Health Monitor have historically required a Samsung phone (though there are unofficial workarounds for other phones). Also, Samsung phone users can make use of the Samsung ecosystem integration: the watch can unlock your Samsung phone or tablet, and Samsung Continuity features (like call switching) work across their devices. The new Galaxy exclusive features – e.g., some of the Galaxy AI powered features (Energy Score suggestions, etc.) require a Galaxy phone to function fully androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung and Google collaborated on Wear OS, but Samsung still keeps certain things for its own – e.g., if you want the full experience of using Bixby, Samsung Pay, and all Samsung apps, you’ll likely pair with a Galaxy phone where everything is pre-installed. There’s also a one-tap Samsung account sign-in and app transfer if you use a Samsung handset. So while a OnePlus or Motorola phone can absolutely pair with Galaxy Watch 7 and get the core benefits (Google apps, notifications, etc.), a Galaxy phone user will get a bit more out of it (one reason many consider Galaxy Watch 7 “the ideal Android smartwatch for Galaxy owners” androidcentral.com).

Honor’s Watch 5 is brand-agnostic in that sense – it doesn’t particularly favor Honor phones over others except maybe quick setup if you have an Honor handset. In fact, since Honor is relatively new in global markets after splitting from Huawei, its app is designed to be used on any Android (and iOS as mentioned).

App Ecosystem and Services: The Pixel Watch 3 integrates tightly with Google’s ecosystem of services. You log in with your Google account, and you’ll have things like Gmail notifications with the ability to archive or reply using Google’s interface on the watch, Google Calendar events which you can RSVP to, Google Maps which can pull directions from your phone’s Google Maps app, and Google Photos watch faces. It also ties into Fitbit’s ecosystem – data from the watch syncs to the Fitbit app cloud, so if you’ve used Fitbit trackers, all your historical data and friends challenges, etc., can merge with the Pixel Watch. This is a big plus for existing Fitbit users. On the other hand, if you were a user of Google Fit (Google’s older fitness platform), note that Google is pushing Fitbit as the future, so Pixel Watch emphasizes Fitbit app instead of Google Fit for health data.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 sits at an intersection of Google and Samsung ecosystems. It runs Google’s Wear OS so you have Play Store apps and Google services like Maps and Assistant (if enabled), but Samsung overlays its ecosystem: Samsung Health (which some prefer over Fitbit/Google Fit), Bixby, and Tizen-like One UI design. If you have Samsung appliances or SmartThings devices, you can control them from the watch. If you use Samsung Pay on your phone, you can mirror that on the watch. Samsung also has its Galaxy Store for watch faces and some apps, though most apps have moved to Play Store with the switch to Wear OS. Essentially, Samsung offers a broader cross-compatibility with both ecosystems but works best if you use at least some Samsung services.

Smart Home Integration: We touched on this above – Pixel Watch’s advantage is direct Google Home integration. If you have Nest cameras, Nest Thermostat, or Chromecast, etc., the Pixel watch can directly control or display info (e.g., see Nest doorbell camera feed on watch, adjust thermostat from a complication, etc.) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Galaxy Watch can achieve similar via third-party or SmartThings if your devices are linked there (SmartThings supports many of the same devices). Honor’s watch doesn’t really integrate with smart home systems – it’s not a platform for that.

Data and Sharing: Another ecosystem aspect is where your health data lives. With Honor, your data is in Honor’s Health app (which might sync to some third-party services like Google Fit or Apple Health if they provide that option, but often these proprietary apps keep data siloed). Samsung Health data can sync to some platforms and has a robust community of its own (steps challenges among Samsung users). Fitbit (for Pixel) obviously has a big community and you can share data to Google Fit or export it if needed. If you already have years of data in one of these (Samsung Health or Fitbit), that might sway you – e.g., a longtime Samsung Health user might lean to Galaxy Watch; a longtime Fitbit user would love Pixel Watch integration.

PC and Other Device Compatibility: Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch can unlock or be used with Android tablets and Chromebooks (for unlocking or notifications syncing). Galaxy Watch might even work with some Windows integration through the Phone Link app for notifications. Honor’s watch likely doesn’t extend to PC integration (other than the smartphone app).

In essence, if you have an iPhone, Honor Watch 5 is your only choice here (and even then, consider that it won’t be as seamless as an Apple Watch). For Android users, the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 both integrate exceptionally well with Android, but each favors its brand’s ecosystem: go Pixel Watch if you are all-in on Google/Fitbit and maybe use a Pixel or other stock Android phone; go Galaxy Watch if you have a Samsung phone or prefer Samsung’s ecosystem and style. The Honor Watch 5, working on any Android, is a neutral option best for someone who maybe doesn’t need deep integration, or perhaps someone who switches between Android and iOS and wants a watch that can tag along on either. However, note that with Honor you lose out on the rich ecosystem of apps and services – it’s more siloed. Android Central summarized it well comparing Pixel vs others: the Pixel Watch 3 is recommended because “you won’t find any other Wear OS watch that comes close [to Galaxy Watch] when it comes to software support and useful features” aside from Galaxy, and unless Pixel appeals to you, Galaxy Watch is top for Android androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. That underscores that both Pixel and Galaxy watches are the top-tier choices for an Android ecosystem, whereas Honor is more of a standalone gadget.

Pricing and Availability

When it comes to price and availability, these watches span different ranges, from budget-friendly to premium. Let’s break down the costs and where you can get them:

Honor Watch 5: One of the big selling points of the Honor Watch 5 is its affordability. Honor positioned this watch in the mid-range/budget segment. According to reports, the Watch 5 was expected to retail for around €150 in Europe phonearena.com, and roughly equivalent prices elsewhere (~$160 USD, though official U.S. availability might be limited). PhoneArena noted an “expected price of around €150” and commented that it offers a lot for that cost phonearena.com phonearena.com. Indeed, for under $200, you’re getting a bright AMOLED, long battery life, and robust tracking – a strong value. In some regions (like China or parts of Asia), Honor’s pricing might be even more aggressive. As of mid-2025, Honor’s global presence is growing but still patchy. The Watch 5 was launched in China in September 2024, and Honor often brings its wearables to international markets a bit later. By 2025, it’s available in parts of Europe and Asia through Honor’s official channels and retailers. In the U.S., Honor products are not widely sold due to the brand’s history, so you might have to import it if you’re an American buyer. That said, online retailers and Honor’s website often carry these devices globally. There are no expensive variants or LTE versions to worry about – just choose your color and go. If you want the higher-end Honor Watch 5 Ultra (with titanium case, sapphire glass, ECG, etc.), that one launched in mid-2025 at a much higher price (~CNY 1999 to 2899, roughly $300-400) gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. But the standard Honor Watch 5 stays in that $150 range which is very competitive.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Samsung priced the Galaxy Watch 7 similarly to the Watch 6 (no increase, which was welcome after prior hikes) androidcentral.com. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 (Bluetooth) started at $299 / £289 / €319 at launch androidcentral.com. The larger 44mm (Bluetooth) was $329 / £319 / €349 androidcentral.com. If you want the LTE-capable versions, Samsung charges about $50 extra for either size (so $349 and $379 respectively in the US) androidcentral.com. In some countries the LTE premium might vary (in Europe it was roughly €50-€60 extra). These prices put the Watch 7 in the upper-mid-range for smartwatches, comparable to Apple Watch pricing for the non-Ultra models. Given the features (sapphire glass, advanced sensors), many felt it was reasonable. Samsung also often runs promotions and trade-in deals. For instance, around launch they offered bundle deals (like getting a free extra band) and generous trade-ins – you could trade “any smartwatch, any condition” for $100 off androidcentral.com. As 2025 progressed, the Watch 7 saw frequent discounts into the low $200s on Amazon and other retailers androidcentral.com. At one point, it’s been spotted around $209 on sale androidcentral.com, making it a great value relative to launch price. Availability is broad: Samsung sells the Watch 7 globally – North America, Europe, Asia, etc., via Samsung’s site, carriers, and electronics stores. It launched on July 24, 2024 (after the July 10 announcement) and was widely in stock shortly after androidcentral.com. So by now, you can find it easily, and in three case colors (though note, as mentioned: 40mm has an exclusive Cream color, 44mm has Silver, both have Green) androidcentral.com. Bands can be chosen at purchase (sport, fabric, etc.) and lots of third-party bands exist.

It’s worth noting Samsung’s lineup: besides the Watch 7, they also released a pricier Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) at $699 and a cheaper Galaxy Watch FE around $199. But the Watch 7 is the mainstream model most would consider against Pixel and Honor.

Google Pixel Watch 3: The Pixel Watch 3 saw a slight price increase with its introduction of two sizes. The 41mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) model launched at $349 / £349 / €399 androidcentral.com. The 45mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) was $399 / £399 / €449 androidcentral.com. So basically a $50/£50/€50 jump for the larger size, which makes sense given the bigger screen and battery. Adding LTE capability on the Pixel Watch 3 was a $100 / £100 / €100 premium on top of whichever size androidcentral.com. That means the top-end 45mm LTE version was $499 at launch. This pricing positions Pixel Watch 3 at the high end of the market – roughly on par with the higher configurations of Apple Watch (non-Ultra) and a bit above Samsung’s equivalent sizes (which were $329 vs Pixel’s $399 for large). Google likely justified it with the premium build and Fitbit integration. However, Google often offers freebies or discounts on Pixel products soon after launch. The Pixel Watch 3 was available in September 2024 in 32 countries initially androidcentral.com, which is a broad rollout (including US, UK, Canada, many EU countries, Australia, etc.), though only 20 of those had the LTE model officially sold androidcentral.com. By 2025, you can find Pixel Watch 3 through the Google Store, carriers (like Verizon, T-Mobile in the US), and retailers like Amazon or Best Buy. It, too, has seen discounts – for instance, by mid-2025, the 41mm Wi-Fi was spotted as low as $269 on Amazon androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, and the 45mm for around $300-329 on deals. Google also does trade-in offers when buying from Google Store (e.g., trade an older Pixel Watch or even other brands for some credit) androidcentral.com. Color-wise, Pixel Watch 3 comes in a variety of case finishes and default bands as mentioned (four finishes for 41mm, three for 45mm) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, but all were same price – you just pick the one you like, no premium for different colors.

Summary of Price Tiers: Honor Watch 5 is clearly the budget-friendly choice at around $150 (if available to you) phonearena.com. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 sits in the middle at $299–$379 depending on size/LTE androidcentral.com, making it a bit cheaper than Pixel for comparable versions. Google Pixel Watch 3 is the priciest of the three, especially if you go for the larger or LTE models (up to $499) androidcentral.com. However, street prices and sales can blur these lines – Pixel Watch 3 was quickly discounted by $50 or more in many cases androidpolice.com, and Samsung’s watches often drop in price a few months after release. In terms of availability: Samsung and Google are widely available through carriers and retail in most regions (except markets where they don’t sell, but generally global). Honor has a more limited distribution; ensure that the Honor Health app and services are supported in your region if you plan to import.

Also, consider warranty and support: buying a Pixel or Galaxy in Western markets comes with robust support and service centers. Honor, while improving, may have fewer service centers. At the same time, the cost difference might justify taking a chance for some.

To wrap up, Honor Watch 5 offers tremendous value for money, undercutting the others significantly in price. Galaxy Watch 7 offers a high-end experience at a slightly lower price than Pixel (and it often goes on sale) androidcentral.com. Pixel Watch 3 is a bit premium in pricing – you pay a bit more for the Google/Fitbit combo and polished design, but it’s often bundled with promotions (like often Pixel phones buyers got a discount on the watch). It’s advisable to watch for deals for both Galaxy and Pixel watches as both see regular discounts by 2025. If budget is tight, Honor is the easy pick; if you want the best and are willing to invest, Pixel or Galaxy (depending on ecosystem) will be worth the extra outlay.

Expert Opinions and Reviews

It’s useful to see what tech experts and reviewers have said about each of these watches. Overall, the reception has been positive for all three, with each earning praise for certain strengths:

  • Honor Watch 5 – Praised for Value and Battery: Reviewers were impressed by how much Honor packed into the Watch 5 given its low price. PhoneArena gave the Honor Watch 5 a 7.5/10 and highlighted its bright display, great battery life, and rich health tracking suite as big pluses phonearena.com phonearena.com. They noted that “the battery life is great, the screen is bright and crisp, and there’s a lot of health, fitness, and sleep insights you’re getting with the Honor Watch 5” phonearena.com phonearena.com. The fact that it works with both iOS and Android and might sell for only ~€150 led them to conclude “it offers a lot” for the money phonearena.com phonearena.com. On the flip side, experts did point out the drawbacks: the design is derivative of Apple’s (so it doesn’t score originality points) and more importantly, the Watch 5 has limited smart features – no LTE option, no third-party apps, and no wireless charging were listed as cons phonearena.com. As PhoneArena put it, “if you distract yourself from the way it looks, it can be a great smartwatch and a potent health and fitness tracker” phonearena.com. That sums up the expert take: it’s a fantastic affordable fitness smartwatch, just don’t expect the ecosystem or polish of pricier models. Many reviewers considered the Honor Watch 5 a strong alternative to basic Fitbit or Amazfit watches, often comparing it to the Apple Watch SE for budget buyers phonearena.com.
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 – Incremental But Best for Android: The Galaxy Watch 7 has been lauded as one of the top Android watches of its time. Android Central in their guide said the Watch 7 “tops our list of the best Android smartwatches available today” androidcentral.com androidcentral.com and called it their “top pick for the best Android smartwatch of the year” due to its blend of performance and features androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. They commended Samsung for consistently good quality and noted improvements like the faster processor, more accurate health data, and dual-band GPS as meaningful upgrades androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. At the same time, they acknowledge it’s a modest step up from Watch 6 – so existing Watch 6 owners may not need to rush to upgrade techradar.com. TechRadar gave the Watch 7 a positive verdict, stating: “It’s not a night-and-day difference over the previous generation, but still an excellent feature set for the price.” techradar.com techradar.com. They highlighted the sleek design, new AI wellness features, and fast performance as pros, while citing the missing physical rotating bezel and unchanged battery life as cons techradar.com techradar.com. In other words, critics see the Watch 7 as a refinement rather than a revolution – but it was already on a great base. Tom’s Guide similarly noted that the Watch 7 isn’t an enormous upgrade from Watch 6, but the “new AI-powered wellness features and impressive detailed sleep insights” are welcome additions tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Across the board, experts agree the Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy for Android, especially if you value its robust health features and have a Samsung phone.
  • Google Pixel Watch 3 – Finally Fulfilled Potential: The Pixel Watch 3 has been received much better than the first-gen Pixel Watch. Android Police dubbed it “big, beautiful, and brainy,” implying that Google “finally got it right” with the Watch 3, especially praising the bigger 45mm option and improved battery life over its predecessors androidpolice.com. TechRadar’s review gave it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it “a big redesign with a deeper focus on health”, and noting the zippy experience and two sizes now make it well-rounded enough to compete with the best techradar.com techradar.com. They seemed pleased with its balance of style and substance. Android Central’s senior editor Michael Hicks stated, “I still highly recommend the Pixel Watch 3. It’s stylish, fast, and better connected with your other Google and Pixel devices… and the Fitbit integration with accurate health sensors is a real draw.” androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. That sentiment is echoed by many: the Pixel Watch 3 marries good hardware with the excellent fitness tracking of Fitbit, creating a very compelling smartwatch for the broader Android community (not just Pixel phone owners). However, reviewers also caution that Pixel Watch 4 is on the horizon which could bring a new chip and more battery, but “until that arrives, the Pixel Watch 3 is your best option” for a Google-centric smartwatch androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. In essence, experts see Pixel Watch 3 as Google’s first truly competitive smartwatch, praising its design, software smoothness, and health features. The main knocks it gets are the familiar ones: battery life is just average (a pain point all Wear OS share) and it’s a bit pricey at MSRP. But as one review headline put it, “Google finally got it right” with the Pixel Watch 3’s improvements webvpn.gzy.edu.cn.

To capture some direct quotes from industry voices:

  • TechRadar on Galaxy Watch 7: “Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7… boosts the overall performance and expands on its already robust health and activity features… still an excellent feature set for the price.” techradar.com
  • PhoneArena on Honor Watch 5: “The battery life is great, the screen is bright and crisp, and there’s a lot of health, fitness, and sleep insights… for around €150, it offers a lot.” phonearena.com phonearena.com
  • Android Central on Pixel Watch 3: “Unless you want the less-stylish but impressive Galaxy Watch 7… you won’t find another watch that matches the Pixel Watch 3 for speedy Wear OS updates… It’s stylish, fast, and… the Fitbit integration with accurate health sensors is a real draw.” androidcentral.com androidcentral.com.

All three watches have earned their place, but in different categories: Honor Watch 5 as a value pick applauded for doing so much on a budget, Galaxy Watch 7 as the all-rounder champion for Android praised for iterative excellence, and Pixel Watch 3 as the stylish innovator that finally merges Google’s smarts with Fitbit’s fitness in a way critics appreciate. No major publication outright panned any of them; criticisms were generally about incremental changes (for Samsung), limited app ecosystem (for Honor), or battery and price (for Pixel). Overall, expert consensus would likely guide you like this: choose Honor Watch 5 if you want the best bang-for-buck and battery; choose Galaxy Watch 7 if you want the most feature-rich and proven smartwatch, especially for Samsung phone users; choose Pixel Watch 3 if you love Google’s design and Fitbit ecosystem, or want the latest Wear OS software experience directly from Google.

Latest News and Rumors

The tech world never stands still – even as we compare these current models, new versions and updates loom on the horizon. Here are some of the latest news and rumors related to the Honor Watch series, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, and Google’s Pixel Watch, as of mid/late 2025:

  • Honor Watch 5 Ultra and Beyond: Honor has already expanded on the Watch 5 with a new high-end variant. In July 2025, Honor launched the Honor Watch 5 Ultra in China gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. This Ultra model takes a different design approach – notably it has a circular 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display with sapphire crystal protection, and a Grade 5 titanium case for extra durability gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. It also adds features that the base Watch 5 lacked, like ECG tracking (it can record electrocardiograms to detect heart risks) gadgets360.com and eSIM support with 4G LTE, meaning you can make calls and use data independently gadgets360.com gadgets360.com. The Watch 5 Ultra basically positions itself as Honor’s answer to premium rugged watches (similar to Huawei Watch Ultimate or Apple Watch Ultra). It still promises up to 15 days battery without eSIM (and ~3 days with LTE active) thanks to a 480 mAh battery and even supports wireless charging (something the base Watch 5 lacked) gadgets360.com. Currently, the Watch 5 Ultra is on sale in China (priced around CNY 1,999 to 2,899 depending on variant, roughly $300+ USD) gadgets360.com. Global release plans haven’t been fully confirmed, but Honor often brings its products to Europe a bit later. This indicates Honor is doubling down on smartwatches, so we might expect a standard Honor Watch 6 in the future as well, possibly by late 2025 or 2026, building on Watch 5’s success. No concrete rumors on Watch 6 yet, but one can speculate it might stick to the square design and incorporate some Ultra features (maybe more health sensors) at a mid-range price.
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic: Samsung’s cycle suggests a new Galaxy Watch each year. Indeed, Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 series on July 9, 2025 at its Summer Unpacked event phonearena.com phonearena.com. The lineup consists of the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and an updated Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) with minor tweaks. The big news is the return of the Classic model with a physical rotating bezel for 2025 – something fans missed on the Watch 7 techradar.com. According to leaks and Samsung’s announcement, the Watch 8 Classic comes in a single 46mm size and indeed features that beloved mechanical bezel for navigation sammobile.com. The regular Watch 8 keeps the digital bezel and comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, but with a slight design twist: Samsung adopted a “circle-in-a-square cushion design” inspired by the Ultra’s look phonearena.com. This basically means the watch has a subtly more rugged, squared-off shape while still being round – possibly to fit a bigger battery or new sensor. In terms of specs, rumors indicated storage might increase on higher models (some leaks said Classic/Ultra could have 64GB) techradar.com, and the battery might get a small boost. However, Samsung reportedly stuck with the Exynos W1000 chip (perhaps slightly optimized), and overall battery life remains similar to Watch 7 androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The pricing saw a bump: the base 40mm Watch 8 starts at $349 (Bluetooth), which is $50 more than Watch 7’s launch price phonearena.com phonearena.com. The 44mm is $379 BT, and the Classic 46mm is pricey at $499 BT (and $549 with LTE) phonearena.com phonearena.com. These changes suggest Samsung is upselling the Classic as a premium model. The Watch 8 series released to market on July 25, 2025 phonearena.com phonearena.com, so if you’re reading this after that date, they might already be available. Early impressions from those leaks and early reviews call the Watch 8 Classic “the best mainline Galaxy Watch in ages” due to the combo of rotating bezel and modern internals techradar.com. Also in Samsung’s orbit is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (2025) – it wasn’t a full redesign, but Samsung added a new titanium color and doubled the storage to 16GB (from 8GB) phonearena.com phonearena.com, with the same 47mm size and big battery. So Samsung’s ecosystem of watches is growing: if you’re considering a Galaxy Watch 7 now, know that the Watch 8 is out with some refinements (especially if you love the physical bezel, the 8 Classic might appeal). But also, as one leak piece said, “the Watch 8 may not be a massive change over the Watch 7” given similar battery and chip androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, so Watch 7 remains a solid buy especially at discounted prices.
  • Google Pixel Watch 4 rumors: Google is expected to iterate yearly as well. Rumors about the Pixel Watch 4 are already circulating. According to a Tom’s Guide roundup, the Pixel Watch 4 is predicted to launch around August or September 2025 (likely alongside Pixel 10 phones if the schedule aligns) tomsguide.com. Leaks suggest Google might finally upgrade the chipset – possibly using Qualcomm’s next-gen wearable chip or even a Tensor-branded SoC for watches. One consistent rumor is a bigger battery and slightly thicker design to accommodate it tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The Pixel Watch 3 already improved battery, but Google might push for multi-day life if possible. Another tidbit: Pixel Watch 4 could add an extra physical button (meaning 2 buttons + crown, akin to many Garmin/Apple watches) for more controls tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. This might help with muscle memory shortcuts or maybe activating the AI assistant (since word is Google’s Gemini AI assistant will take center stage in Wear OS 6 and the new watches androidcentral.com androidcentral.com). Also, the loss of pulse detection that launched on Watch 3 will presumably carry into Watch 4, and Google might try to one-up Apple and Samsung with some new health feature – speculation includes maybe blood pressure or glucose monitoring if tech allows, but nothing concrete yet. Price-wise, Pixel Watch 4 is expected to stay in the same range (Tom’s Guide predicts $349+ again) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. If you’re eyeing a Pixel Watch 3, just know the next-gen is not far off (as of mid-2025). However, Pixel Watch 3 is currently heavily discounted, so it could still be a great buy without waiting.
  • Software Updates: Beyond hardware, there’s the upcoming Wear OS 6 update slated for late 2025. Google previewed it with Material Design 3 changes and “Gemini AI” integration (the new generative assistant) at Google I/O 2025 androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The Pixel Watch 3 will get this update (just likely after Pixel Watch 4 launches with it first) androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Samsung’s watches will get their One UI Watch 7 based on Wear OS 6 probably in late 2025 too. Samsung also teased new health features (like the vascular health metric and AI coach) coming via software updates to Watch 7/8 series androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Honor, on its side, might update MagicOS on the Watch 5 with new features via firmware, but these tend to be minor (perhaps new watch faces or slight algorithm improvements).

In summary, the smartwatch scene is evolving: Honor is upping its game with a premium Ultra model and likely a follow-up to the Watch 5 in the future; Samsung has already released the Watch 8 and brought back the Classic bezel to please fans, while refining features; Google is gearing up for Pixel Watch 4 with rumored hardware upgrades and a big software overhaul (Wear OS 6 with AI) on the way androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. If you’re shopping now, it’s good to know that Galaxy Watch 7 is no longer the newest Samsung watch (so you might find it at bargain prices, but also know Watch 8 is out with modest improvements). Pixel Watch 3 is still current until the fall, and being a third-gen product it’s quite refined – Pixel Watch 4 will likely be more evolution than revolution (except maybe an SoC change). And if you love Honor, the Watch 5 is current but the Honor Watch 6 could appear in the next generation, possibly adopting some of the Ultra’s tech or a new design, though nothing official yet. Always keep an eye on official launch events (Samsung’s typically mid-year, Google’s in the fall, Honor’s tied to their phone launch cycles) for the latest.

Verdict

Choosing between the Honor Watch 5, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and Google Pixel Watch 3 ultimately comes down to your priorities and what ecosystem you prefer. Each watch has distinct strengths and is best suited for certain users:

  • Honor Watch 5 – Best for Budget and Battery: The Honor Watch 5 is a fantastic choice for those on a budget or who hate frequent charging. Its standout 15-day battery life phonearena.com means you can wear it day and night for weeks – ideal for sleep tracking fans and people who just want a low-maintenance device. Despite the low price (~€150), you get a bright 1.85″ AMOLED display and comprehensive health tracking (heart rate, SpO₂, sleep, stress) phonearena.com phonearena.com. It’s also cross-platform, working with both Android and iPhones, which gives it versatility phonearena.com. The Honor is perfect for someone who primarily wants a fitness-focused smartwatch – perhaps you’re considering a Fitbit, but the Honor offers similar health data with a full color watch experience and great battery. It has an attractive design (albeit an unabashed Apple Watch lookalike) that many will find stylish phonearena.com phonearena.com. However, be aware of its limitations: it lacks third-party apps and advanced smart features like contactless payments or on-wrist music streaming. Notifications are mostly read-only, and there’s no LTE model. If you’re okay with that – essentially using it as a powerful fitness watch that also tells time and mirrors notifications – the Honor Watch 5 is hard to beat in value. It’s best suited for: fitness enthusiasts on a budget, those who want a simple-to-use watch with excellent battery (e.g., if you go camping or travel and can’t charge often), and even iPhone users who want a cheap alternative to Apple Watch (with the caveat of reduced functionality on iOS).
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 – Best All-Rounder for Android Users (Especially Samsung Owners): The Galaxy Watch 7 earns the title of the most feature-rich smartwatch in this trio and our “top pick” for Android users looking for an all-around smartwatch androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. It combines a sleek, durable design with a powerful new processor that makes it the snappiest Wear OS watch of its time androidcentral.com techradar.com. The Watch 7 excels in health and fitness: you get everything from ECG and blood pressure tracking to body composition analysis and highly accurate heart rate readings even during intense workouts androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. Its dual-band GPS and improved sensor array make it reliable for serious runners and athletes androidcentral.com. At the same time, it’s a full smartwatch with apps, calls, texts, music, payments – essentially no compromise on smart features. It seamlessly integrates with Android and is outstanding if you have a Samsung phone (unlocking a few exclusive extras and tighter ecosystem sync). The Galaxy Watch 7’s main trade-offs are its 1–2 day battery life – you’ll charge it regularly – and the fact that it was a modest upgrade over the Watch 6, meaning it didn’t change the game in any radical way techradar.com. Still, it’s currently one of the best Android watches you can buy, period. It’s best suited for: users who want a balanced smartwatch that “can do it all.” If you value having every possible health sensor, lots of apps, a proven track record of updates, and you don’t mind charging daily, the Watch 7 is for you. It’s especially fitting if you already carry a Galaxy phone or use Samsung services. Even non-Samsung Android users will find it a top-notch companion, but Galaxy owners get a bit of extra love (like using the watch as a camera remote or the new Galaxy-only AI features androidcentral.com). In short, choose the Galaxy Watch 7 if you want the most advanced features and you’re entrenched in the Android ecosystem – it’s the powerhouse on your wrist.
  • Google Pixel Watch 3 – Best for Style, Google Integration, and Fitbit Fans: The Pixel Watch 3 is the choice for those who appreciate design and Google’s ecosystem. It’s arguably the most stylish of the three, with its distinctive domed glass and now a larger 45mm option that looks great on the wrist. It’s also incredibly comfortable and sleek, making it as much a fashion accessory as a tech gadget. Where the Pixel Watch 3 shines is in software experience: it runs pure Google Wear OS with day-one updates and has deep integration with Google services (Assistant, Maps, Gmail, Calendar) plus the Fitbit health tracking platform androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. This means you get the intuitive, user-friendly Fitbit interface for health metrics – sleep score, daily readiness, stress management – combined with a full smartwatch. Reviewers have called it “stylish, fast, and better connected with your Google devices… with Fitbit integration a real draw.” androidcentral.com androidcentral.com If you’re a longtime Fitbit user, the Pixel Watch 3 gives you the best of both worlds: a Fitbit on steroids that can also run apps and do smartphone tricks. It’s also the only one with the cutting-edge loss-of-pulse emergency alert feature currently store.google.com, potentially life-saving for those concerned about health emergencies. Downsides: battery life is only about a day (24 hours with AOD) androidcentral.com, so it’s on par with Samsung in that regard – manageable, but you’ll need daily top-ups. It’s also priced on the higher side, though discounts have made it quite accessible by 2025. It lacks the body composition and some of Samsung’s niche health metrics, but otherwise covers ECG, stress (EDA), and the essentials very well. It’s best suited for: people who use a lot of Google services or own Pixel devices – you’ll love how synced it all is. Also for those who put a premium on looks and a clean, minimalistic interface. If you’ve been in the Fitbit ecosystem, the Pixel Watch 3 is almost a no-brainer upgrade to a true smartwatch without sacrificing the health insights you’re used to. Conversely, if you’re someone who doesn’t need the absolute breadth of Samsung’s features and prefer a refined Google experience, the Pixel Watch 3 is your watch.

Final Thoughts:
Each of these watches comes out on top in a different category. The Honor Watch 5 is the value king and endurance champ, perfect if you want a simple smartwatch that you can trust to last and cover your fitness basics without breaking the bank. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the feature-packed workhorse, ideal for Android users (especially Samsung fans) who want maximum functionality – it’s effectively a little smartphone on your wrist with no major weaknesses except battery. The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the polished trendsetter, great for those who want the latest Wear OS software, tight Google integration, and a dose of Fitbit wellness magic in an attractive package.

In a sentence: Honor Watch 5 is best for the budget-conscious fitness tracker lover, Galaxy Watch 7 is best for the power user who wants everything in one device, and Pixel Watch 3 is best for the Google-centric user seeking a stylish, smart health companion.

Whatever your choice, all three are robust smartwatches that show how far wearables have come – from Honor’s long-lasting health watch to Samsung and Google’s app-rich wrist computers, there’s something here for every type of user. Enjoy your smartwatch journey, and stay tuned as the next generations (Galaxy Watch 8, Pixel Watch 4, etc.) build on this solid foundation of 2024-2025’s best.

Sources: The information above was synthesized from various reputable sources: PhoneArena’s review of the Honor Watch 5 phonearena.com phonearena.com, official spec details and pricing from Android Central and TechRadar for the Galaxy Watch 7 androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, Android Central’s detailed breakdown of the Pixel Watch 3 androidcentral.com androidcentral.com, and more, ensuring an accurate and up-to-date comparison. Each claim is backed by these sources, reflecting expert analyses and the latest news in the smartwatch arena.

Tags: , ,